Senate Passes Bill To STOP Discrimination Against HIV/AIDS Infected Persons.

The Senate on Thursday, passed the bill for an act to end all forms of discrimination against Persons Living with Human Immune Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The passage of the HIV and AIDS Anti-Discrimination Bill, 2014, followed a clause by clause consideration of the report of the Senate Committee on Health by a Committee of the Whole.

If the bill becomes law, it is expected to reduce the HIV burden through the prevention of discrimination and stigmatisation on the basis of real or perceived HIV status. It is expected to encourage voluntary testing and counselling, access to treatment, improved health outcomes and reduction of risky sex behaviour.

Photo of the Day

The picture was snapped on the set of 'Last Party' ... 17 years ago. The movie also stars Bimbo Akintola, Saint Obi and Ibinabo Fiberesima.

'HIV made me feel ugly and battered but no more' - Rolake Odetoyinbo

Before the interview - MEET Morolake Odetoyinbo, Executive Director and Founder of PATA

'Rolake studied Dramatic Arts at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, specialising in radio, film and TV production. She is an activist, advocate, writer, trainer, public speaker, and television and radio producer. She has at least fifteen years of experience in fighting for rights of the marginalised and the vulnerable.

A graduate of the African American HIV University in Los Angeles, she is an openly positive lady with a broad understanding of public health. She works on issues of HIV/AIDS, disabilities, sexual, reproductive and women's health.

She is a member of the Strategic and Technical Committee for WHO HIV Department, the Board Chairperson for the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC), Chair of the Global Fund's implementing Bloc and past Board Member, Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. She was recently honoured as one of the top 100 women globally delivering on women and girls. She holds multiple awards in Nigeria, Africa and globally.

2015: Stay away from N’Delta, APC tells Jonathan

THE All Progressives Congress has asked President Goodluck Jonathan and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party to stay away from the Niger Delta region ahead of the 2015 general elections.

The APC stated that the President and the PDP had no moral right to campaign for re-election in the Niger Delta due to their alleged neglect of the region.

Rivers State Interim Chairman of the party, Dr. Ikanya Davies, said in a statement on Thursday that the President should avoid campaigning in the oil-rich region since his kinsmen had rejected him for disappointing them.

The statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the state APC chairman, Chief Chukwuemeka Eze, recalled that the former Bayelsa Governor, Mr. Timipreye Sylva, had declared that the majority of Bayelsa people were not happy with Jonathan and wanted a change.

According to the statement, “Even though they lack shame, President Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party should for once respect themselves and stay away from the Niger Delta since even his kinsmen in Bayelsa State have rejected him for disappointing them.

Abuja jailbreak: SSS detains engineer for posting pictures

A Thirty-two-year-old engineer, Isiaka Yusuf, is reportedly being held by the State Security Service for posting pictures of the March 30 jailbreak by some detainees suspected to be members of the Boko Haram on Twitter.

Investigations by iPUNCH on Thursday showed that Isiaka — an employee of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company attached to the Aso Villa substation — was picked up from his office by SSS operatives on March 30, a few hours after the incident.

The Electrical and Electronics Engineering graduate of the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, was allegedly busy at work while the security breach lasted.

He had posted six live pictures on his Twitter page, showing how SSS officials and soldiers battled to regain control of the secret service’s headquarters, located behind the Villa, from the detainees.

Further checks by iPUNCH on his Twitter page revealed that Isiaka’s last known public communication on the social network was the pictures and the accompanying tweets he posted in connection with the jailbreak on March 30.

Drama as Reps pass 2014 budget

The House of Representatives passed the 2014 budget on Thursday, increasing the total by N53bn.

President Goodluck Jonathan proposed a total of N4.642tn as estimates for this year, but like the Senate,  the House okayed N4.695tn.

Findings showed that both chambers earlier agreed on the figures during deliberations between their committees on appropriation and finance.

Just like the Senate did on Wednesday, the House passed N408,687,801,891 as statutory transfers;  N712,000,000,000  for  debt servicing; N2,454,887,566,702 as recurrent expenditure;   and N1,119,614,631,407 as capital expenditure,  thus  bringing the aggregate to N4,695,190,000,000.

However, there was some drama preceding the clause by clause consideration of the budget by the House members.

Nigeria move up in FIFA rankings

The Super Eagles are now 45th in the latest FIFA rankings released by the world football body on Thursday. The team moved up two places despite losing six points in the log.

The rankings placed Nigeria as Africa’s sixth best just above Tunisia which dropped five places to 49th in the world courtesy of their 44 points loss.

Ahead of Nigeria in the Africa sub-group are Cote d’Ivoire (21st), Egypt (24th), Algeria (25th), Ghana (38th) and Cape Verde (42nd).